New Mexico

May 25

A constitutional convention met in Santa Fe and framed a constitution that citizens ratified on June 20. A legislature met on July 1 and elected two U.S. senators. Congress rejected the legislature's petition for statehood in part because of southern members' objection to the anti-slavery provision within the proposed constitution.

1850

September 9

Under the provisions of the Compromise of 1850, the U.S. Congress granted New Mexico territorial status. Its quest for statehood would continue for another 62 years, requiring the introduction of more than four dozen authorizing bills. New Mexico was a territory longer than any other of the contiguous territories in the Union. Mining and railroad industries generally opposed statehood, preferring territorial status with its accompanying lack of state taxation.

1851

December 1

Richard H. Weightman, a newspaper publisher from Santa Fe, became the first of New Mexico's 17 territorial delegates in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the U.S. Senate, New Mexico's interests were represented by senators from the adjacent states of Texas and Colorado.

1906

November 6

The Territory of New Mexico offered to join with the Arizona Territory to seek admission as a single state. Arizona voters rejected this proposal.

1911

January 21

New Mexico citizens approved a state constitution, which was considered conservative in its provisions. This balanced the more liberal-oriented constitution that the Arizona Territory adopted that year and ensured that the admission of both territories would be mutually dependent.

1911

August 21

Congress approved a resolution providing for statehood for both New Mexico and Arizona. The two states were linked because of expectations that New Mexico's congressional delegation would be Republican and Arizona's Democratic. A provision in the Arizona constitution permitting the recall of judges caused President William Howard Taft to withhold his approval of both states' request for admission. After Arizona removed that provision, Taft gave his approval and both states quickly moved to statehood. (Soon after admission, Arizona reinserted its recall provision.)

1912

January 6

New Mexico was admitted as the 47th state in the Union.

1912

April 2

New Mexico's first two senators, Thomas Catron and Albert B. Fall, presented their credentials, took the oath of office, and were seated in the U.S. Senate. They then drew lots to determine their class assignments. Catron drew Class 1, with a term to expire on March 3, 1917. Fall drew Class 2, with a term to expire March 3, 1913.

1912

June

In a procedure marked by fist fights and highly irregular procedure, the state legislature reelected Albert Fall to a full six-year term. The state's governor refused to sign his credentials. This required another election early the following year, in which the legislature again elected Albert Fall.

1916

November 7

March 4

Following the Senate's confirmation of his nomination, Senator Albert Fall resigned his Senate seat to become secretary of the interior in the administration of President (and former senator) Warren G. Harding. Fall left that post in 1923 and was subsequently convicted of conspiracy and bribery in connection with the Teapot Dome oil leasing scandal. The first former cabinet officer to be convicted as a result of misconduct in office, Fall served one year in prison.

February 22

May 11

Dennis Chavez, the first American-born Hispanic senator, was appointed to the Senate after the death of former senator Bronson M. Cutting and was elected to complete the full term. He remained in the Senate for more than 27 years, until his own death in 1962.

1939

August 2

The Hatch Act, sponsored by Senator Carl Hatch of Clovis, became a public law. It prevented federal employees from engaging in political activity.

1945

June 30

Representative and future senator Clinton P. Anderson of Albuquerque began service as the secretary of agriculture under President Harry S. Truman, a position he held until 1948. He began his Senate career in 1949 and served for 24 years.

July 14

Pete Domenici became New Mexico's longest-serving senator, surpassing the record of 27 years, 6 months, and 8 days set by Dennis Chavez in 1962. Domenici went on to serve in the Senate a total of 36 years.